Phosphorus transversal relaxation times and metabolite concentrations in the human brain at 9.4 T

A method to estimate phosphorus (³¹P) transversal relaxation times (T₂s) of coupled spin systems is demonstrated. Additionally, intracellular and extracellular pH and relaxation-corrected metabolite concentrations are reported. Echo time (TE) series of ³¹P metabolite spectra were acquired using stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) localization. Spectra were fitted using LCModel with accurately modeled Versatile Simulation, Pulses and Analysis (VeSPA) basis sets accounting for J-evolution of the coupled spin systems. T₂s were estimated by fitting a single exponential two-parameter model across the TE series. Fitted inorganic phosphate frequencies were used to calculate pH, and estimated relaxation times were used to determine the relaxation-corrected brain metabolite concentrations on an assumption of 3 mM γ-ATP. The method was demonstrated in healthy human brain at a field strength of 9.4 T. T₂ times of ATP and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) were shortest between 8 and 20 ms, followed by T₂s of inorganic phosphate between 25 and 50 ms, and phosphocreatine with a T₂ of 100 ms. Phosphomonoesters and phosphodiesters had the longest T₂s of about 130 ms. The measured T₂s are comparable with literature values and fit in a decreasing trend with increasing field strengths. Calculated pHs and metabolite concentrations are also comparable with literature values.